Texas Group Names Fick Executive Director

Veteran horse racing industry executive Dan Fick has been named executive director of Texas Horse Organizations for Racing, Showing and Eventing, effective Jan. 1, 2013.

Fick, of Granbury, Texas will succeed Val Clark, who is leaving Texas H.O.R.S.E. to pursue other career opportunities, according to a release from the organization.

"I look forward to working with all aspects of the horse industry to promote the best interests of Texas horsemen and women, and to substantially improve and expand their opportunities to breed, race, show, and enjoy their horses in Texas," Fick said in a statement.

Fick was director of racing for the American Quarter Horse Association from 1984-2003, executive director of The Jockey Club from 2003-2009, and director of racing at Remington Park from 2011-2012.

Texas H.O.R.S.E. is a non-profit association with a board of directors consisting of one representative from each of the eight founding Texas-based horse organizations and one director at large.

The organization said it was formed to preserve the $5.2 billion Texas horse industry and that its immediate goal is to "promote passage of legislation in Austin to provide a competitive balance in the region to reverse the trend of breeders and owners going to surrounding states to breed, race, and show their horses."